April."] CARE OF CHOICK BULBS. 89 



sorts in the vicinity of Philadelphia, as in any garden of 

 Europe ; but even these very superior sorts, when in bloom, 

 are too frequently neglected, being allowed to stand without 

 rods, stakes, or any means of support, likewise equally ex- 

 posed to drenching rains and scorching suns ; and the finest 

 collections may be seen after heavy rains prostrate on the 

 ground, whereas a few hours' trouble would give them the 

 requisite support, thereby preserving their beauty much 

 longer, and giving more gratification. As soon as the 

 stems advance to any height, they should be supported by 

 wires, rods, &c., and tied slightly thereto with threads of 

 matting, or any other substitute ; repeat the tying as they 

 advance, avoid tying among the florets, because they grow 

 by extension, and are liable to be broken off by so doing. 

 The sun deteriorates the colours very much, especially the 

 red, blue, and yellow sorts; whereas, if they were simply 

 protected from the sun by an awning of thin canvas, the 

 colours would be preserved and the beauty protracted. If 

 there are stakes drove into the ground on each side of the 

 beds, about three feet high, with others in the centre about 

 eight feet, having laths or hoops from the side to the centre, 

 formed similar to the roof of a house, so that people may 

 walk or sit under it, the canvas or awning being thin to 

 admit of the light freely, the effect in the time of sunshine, 

 from the brilliancy of the colours, is peculiarly gratifying. 

 Where an awning is thus erected, it requires to be kept on 

 only from nine to three o'clock in sunshine days, and during 

 nights or time of rain, allowing the awning on the most 

 northern side tocorne close to the ground, when necessary, 

 to shelter them from cold cutting winds. 



The properties of a good Hyacinth arc, namely the 

 stem strong and erect, the florets or bells occupying one- 

 half of the stem, each floret suspended bv a short strong 

 footstalk, longest at the bottom ; the uppermost floret quite 

 erect, so that the whole may form a pyramid. Each floret 

 well filled with petals rising toward the centre, that it may 

 appear to the eye a little convex. Regarding colour, fancy 

 does not agree, and the most scrupulous cultivators differ 

 materially. However, the more pure and bright the finer, 

 or a white with a pink centre, or the centre of the petals 

 with a paler or deeper colour appearing striped, which is 

 considered to have a good effect. 

 8* 



